Page 437 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF YAMASHIRO 289

Kuniyama or Hozan (4003*), mark obscure (4004), Nippon Bunzan kore wo utsusu (4005),
Sekizen (4006*), Kozan (4007), Uji (4008). 1 780-1870
4009—40I5' Tea-jars, identified by Japanese
experts as having been made in Uji near Kyoto.

SOHAKU (Case 34 and Plate XXIII. 4016)
This potter was a contemporary of Shim-
bei. The tea-jars attributed to Sohaku have
a bulbous body and a narrow bulbous neck.
4016. Tea-jar, flask-shaped. H. 2J in. Two
looped handles. Brown-fawn clay, dull chest-
nut-brown glaze with darker areas. 1540
Type Ninagawa. Part IV., Fig. i.
4005
SHOI (Case 34 and Plate XXIII. 4017)
Shoi or Masai was an oculist, a lover of the tea-ceremony, and an amateur potter.
Tea-jars attributed to him are still extant. His work is placed in the middle of the
sixteenth century.
4017. Tea-jar, gourd-shaped. H. -2.^ in. Fawn clay, thick chestnut-brown glaze mottled.
Type Ninagawa. Part IV., Fig. 2. 1550
TAIHEI (Case 34 and Plate XXIII. 4020)

A few tea-jars are still extant of an amateur potter named Taihei, who worked in
the early years of the seventeenth century. His tea-jars are signed with a circle im-
pressed, and are of great rarity. In clay and glaze they bear a strong resemblance to
those of Narumi in Owari.
o
4020. Tea-jar, globular. H. 2}in. Grayish-brown clay and glaze. Mottled areas
of rich dark brown. A circle impressed. 1600 4020

SO-I (Case 34 and Plate XXIII. 4021)
But little information can be gathered regarding So-i beyond the mere record that
he was a native of Kyoto, a tea-lover and an amateur potter, also that he was a con-
temporary of Shimbei, Taihei, and other amateurs. His mark is given as a number of
double cross-lines incised. The specimen in the collection is the only one I have ever
seen.
Hard, nearly white clay, pale light yellowish-olive glaze, lustrous, settling into "^
4021.
H.
in.
Tea-jar, cylindrical with two knobs on shoulder, sides sliced.
3J
brown. Cross-marks incised. 1600 4021
KOSON (Case 34 and Plate XXIII. 4022)
The family name of this potter was Nagatagawa, commonly called Zengamon. He
was not a professional potter, but being fond of the tea-ceremony learned the art of